Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 6th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 5th Dec 25 at
4:02PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Wind dropping light across much of the inland Highlands, but gusty near west coasts and staying strong for longer in the far north. Low cloud fairly widespread with patchy rain, clearer toward northwest. Southwesterly winds England, gale-force in Wales, driving in frequent heavy showery rain.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gusty wind dropping. A little rain, sleet tops, low cloud S/E.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 15 to 25mph, gusty in places mainly around higher Cairngorms and northern corries, risk local 30-35mph early in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small most areas, but possibly more blustery in places early in day, gusty not just on the tops.
How Wet?
Patchy rain
Rain on and off, most frequent toward south and east Cairngorms NP in morning, fading; sleet highest tops, snow at first. Patchier toward Strathspey, may be often dry toward Monadhliath. Some fresh snow on high tops from overnight, beware icy surfaces.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, highest north
Covering the mountains most or all day, to mid-elevations southern areas from Drumochter around to Deeside, banks on some lower slopes. Higher cloud base northwest of Cairngorms, breaks to 900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare glimpses of sun mainly Strathspey. Misty south and eastern areas, better visibility toward Monadhliath, good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C. Wind chill feeling like -5C risk near -10C locally if exposed to stronger speeds around dawn.
Freezing Level
1100m at dawn rising to 1300m; much high terrain remaining frozen over Cairngorm plateau.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 7th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 5th Dec 25 at
4:02PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Some uncertainty: South to southeasterly 15 to 30mph, tending to increase, risk later in day stronger.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in morning, likely becoming more blustery and gusty around higher mountains, chance worsening later.
How Wet?
Risk rain developing later
The morning likely largely dry, bar odd spots some southwestern hills. During afternoon into evening, risk of rain pushing in from the southwest.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest south
Covering higher mountains most or all day, to mid-elevations toward southern Cairngorms, some higher breaks in north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some brief glimpses of weak sun north of Cairngorms. Visibility good where dry, reducing in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, small variation with height. Feeling like -5C or possibly colder if exposed to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Just above freezing on highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 8th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 5th Dec 25 at
4:02PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West turning southwest, later southerly, 20 to 35mph, speed likely to fluctuate, may drop for a few hours during daytime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Uncertain timing and intensity of conditions, a better window possible, but be aware of changes; marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rare showers
Overnight rain likely to clear by dawn, possible sleet/snow only higher tops. Often dry day, occasional patchy showers mostly areas near Drumochter. Risk rain develops into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops south and west
Banks of cloud most common toward southwest Cairngorms, mostly above 900m. Further north/eastward, patches at times over tops, but clearing at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly north/east of Cairngorms. Visibility often very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C. If exposed to stronger winds, risk feeling like -10C on high tops.
Freezing Level
1200 to 1300m.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled onward into next week with areas of low pressure moving in from the Atlantic on prevailing southwesterly winds. Temperatures often relatively mild, typically only higher tops in the Highlands intermittently just below freezing point, expect periods of thawing even up to these tops. Day-to-day weather detail will be uncertain even in short-range as complex systems develop - a series of frontal systems bringing spells of rain - any snowfall mostly confined to highest tops in Scotland; also showers at times with hail mostly near western coasts. Wind speeds will also vary, for periods reaching gale force on tops, but intermittent lulls.